PR – £1/2 Million Duesenberg to Headline H&H May Sale at Syon Park, London

Written by Auction News

First came the grand German Mercedes-Benz 500K, then the elegant English Alvis, now a stunning American gangster-style 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe has been entered for H&H’s sale at Syon Park, London on May 24.

This highly desirable automobile was delivered new in 1929 to top CBS executive and co-founder of the WBBM radio station, H Leslie Atlass of Chicago. Its striking LeBaron Sweep Panel Phaeton coachwork was so admired by friend and fellow Duesenberg-owner Philip K Wrigley (of the chewing gum company fame), that he persuaded Atlass to swap bodies. J147 thereby acquired its current rakish Murphy Convertible Coupe coachwork in circa 1930.

Perhaps regretting his decision, Wrigley seems to have purchased J147 sometime thereafter and retained it until 1940, when history relates he traded it in for, of all things, a Mercury Town Sedan! At that stage the car had covered a mere 28,311 miles. For 10 years it comprised part of the renowned Imperial Palace Auto Collection, arriving in the UK in 2000.

Finished in black with beige trim, this magnificent machine carries an estimate of £400,000-500,000.

Brooke SpecialThe 1936 ERA/Riley Brooke Special is a proven winner in HGPCA circles. This single-seater race car was built by Brooklands competitor and scrap dealer Lesley Brooke around a Riley Imp. Fitted with various MG, Riley and ERA engines in its day, it was raced very successfully, as now, with a blown ERA unit. In its time, it featured in the 1938 South African Grand Prix and won the 1949 Manx Cup.

Still competing most successfully in England and mainland Europe, it has full FIA papers and has secured many victories, including the 2002 Trofeo Alberto Ascari. Finished in blue, it is estimated to fetch £130,000-160,000.

Works MGBJust entered as we went to press was the No.47 Works Sebring MGB of 1964. Genuine Lightweight Competition Roadsters of such considerable pedigree very rarely now come to sale. It carries an estimate of £40,000-50,000.

Further information on this and all other H&H sales can be found at www.classic-auctions.com or by calling +44 (0)1925 730630.

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